Evaluating Risk Communication Efforts

Every risk communication effort should undergo some sort of evaluation. Whenever possible, evaluations should be conducted during as well as at the end of a project. Information from the evaluation can be used to refine risk communication policies, procedures, and practices. Most organizations involved in risk communication efforts communicate risk more than once. Information gained from one effort can be applied to strengthen future efforts. This chapter lists evaluation factors to be considered for care, consensus, and crisis risk communication, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using various evaluators. It ends with a checklist for evaluating risk communication efforts.